One of the clearest convictions guiding all of our North Korean work is this: North Koreans must be the ones discipling North Koreans.

There is often an assumption—by donors, churches, and even North Korean defectors themselves—that “real” discipleship must be done by professionals: South Korean pastors, Western missionaries, or seminary-trained ministers. In practice, this assumption has quietly pushed North Korean believers into second-class roles, even within churches that sincerely want to help them.

North Korean Christians are frequently expected to conform to South Korean church culture—to preach in South Korean styles, use South Korean Bible translations, and adopt South Korean systems—rather than being recognized as potential leaders who, with a little coaching, are able to serve as experts due to their knowledge of North Korean society and pre-existing contacts. Historically, Christianity on the Korean Peninsula has always grown strongest through lay leaders and under persecution. The North Korean underground church today continues in that same pattern and, notably, continues to grow even as church participation in South Korea declines.

With that conviction in mind, we want to share both a hopeful story—one that is still being written.

One of our Underground University students, a North Korean defector who we will call Beatrice, approached us with a request. She had long been in contact with a small group of North Korean women still living in China. They were largely unchurched, but deeply hungry for God and asking for discipleship. She hoped we could take responsibility for discipling them.

We declined.

Not because the women were unimportant, but because we felt that this student herself was being called to disciple them, not us!

At first, she was reluctant. Like many defectors, she assumed she was not qualified. We encouraged her, prayed with her, and she agreed to step forward. Over the following months, our VOMK staff met with her weekly. We trained her to read scripture faithfully, to teach without adding or speculating, and how to respond to questions that arise naturally when people encounter the Bible for the first time.

During this process, we discovered something sobering: much of what she had previously been taught in South Korean churches was theologically confused or inaccurate, and she was unintentionally passing this on.

Rather than discouraging her, this became an opportunity for deeper discipleship for her as well as for the people she was to lead. We worked patiently to “unteach” what she had absorbed and to help her learn a simpler, more disciplined approach: staying close to what is actually written, neither adding to scripture nor reshaping it to fit familiar sermons.

Beatrice discipled the women by helping them to participate in our John Ross Bible translation work and even traveled briefly to China to meet the sisters in person and help establish a healthier structure for their fellowship.

Eventually, however, personal family issues, financial issues, and occupational issues made it clear that she was not yet ready to continue leading this group as a minister. After much prayer, we made the difficult decision to temporarily remove her from formal leadership. We did this not a declaration of failure but as an act of care.

Rather than maintaining something that looked successful, we chose to do what we believe is right before the Lord. She remains in contact with the women in China, still sharing scripture and encouragement, but in a more informal way. At the same time, she and her husband—who had previously been largely uninterested in faith—have both enrolled in Voice of the Martyrs Korea’s Underground Seminary, a program focused on foundational gospel clarity, Bible reading, and learning from underground Christians themselves.

Her husband has recently begun reading scripture and praying. He and Beatrice listen attentively to the Underground Seminary lectures. We are hopeful that this season of formation will prepare her to step back into leadership in the future. As scripture reminds us in 1 Timothy 3:5, the qualifications for Christian leaders are proven character traits; titles must not be bestowed too quickly.

We understand that raising up partners requires a patient, long-term approach. Discipleship in underground ministry is not a production line, and the continued support of our partners gives us the freedom to prioritize faithfulness over appearances.

• Pray for North Korean defector Beatrice and her husband. Pray that they would seek to “manage their own household well,” and that the Lord would use this season of learning and formation to build proven character and prepare them, in His time, to serve in leadership in NK ministry. (1 Timothy 3:5).